I have a 98 z24 and the rear brakes want to lock up when i brake and it sounds like the rear axle is ready to come out from under the car as is clunks like its grabing and releasing the brakes. It seems like it only does it in the rain tho is the odd part. I put new shoes on the rear(and front pads and rotors) but it still does it. the abs sensors are plugged in and i would assume if one of them were bad or if there was a problem in the abs system then the abs light on the dash would light up but it is off. I pulled both drums and everything is where its soposed to be and dry of any brake fluid. ANY IDEAS????
You know, i have the very same problem! no clue what it is...hopefully some of the gurus here will have something to say about that....
**fresh**
I too have had this problem -- I would still say it's the ABS that is causing the effect. If your brake bias is too much to the rear, (i.e. the fronts aren't grabbing enough and/or the rears are grabbing too much) the back wheels will lock up during braking and the ABS system makes quite a fuss. Since rain obviously reduces traction, the effect is more likely to be seen. This is normal functionality for the ABS system, so don't blame it. The trick is trying to correct your brake imbalance. Some ideas on what could cause this imbalance:
1) Front brakes that are worn or use a slick pad material may not be doing their fair share of the braking. This could also be cause by air or moisture in front lines that need bleeding.
2) Brake rotors that are badly warped may cause a "bucking" effect that unsettles the brakes at the back of the car. (This was mainly what caused it in my case)
3) Mismatched or worn tires, especially at the rear.
4) Struts that are worn or blown may cause excessive weight transfer away from the rear.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:17 AM
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Had the same problem, I believe it could be your rear cylinder which is deffective (it wont release in time), or it could be the return springs which could be old or warped (which prevents a timely return. Try adjusting the revolving spring adjuster below the cylinder. The, make sure as you turn the drum it grips minimally, and can be turned without effort. I would replace the springs and cylinders all together.
well crap, i was hopeing it was going to be a simple problem and not one of those " my car does it to" things like the common 2.4 hesitation problem that seems to have no fix. I have replaced and double checked everything on the front and rear brakes and eveything is perfect. There is no way at all that this noise could be a ''normal" function of the abs system as it about scares the @!#$ out of people that are even standing close by the car. hopfully the neon disc swap will cure the problem when i get around to doing it.
If it's doing what I think it's doing, then getting disc brakes for the back might only make it worse (with more rear brake bias). I hope for your sake I'm wrong though. I got quite familiar with the "clunk-patunk-patunk-ratatatata" noise in the rear of my car, and if that's a decent impression of the noise you get, then it's ABS for sure.
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it's a j-body thing, My 86 sunbird did it, my 92 Cavalier did it, and my 01 Cavalier does it. It is just something that these cars seem to do. I dont really think that there is a true fix for it.
2009 Ford Mustang V6
I had the same problem with my car. The passenger side rear brake would almost stick. My problem was the rear bearing was locking up on it. I dont know if you any of you have checked that out.
Had the problem on my ole 98 vert. It was cheap rear brake shoes. Changed them out to GM Durastop shoes and never had the problem again.
same problem here, its just a j-body thing. Came outta work tonight and the first few stops i made it would grab in the rear pass. side. Last time it did it it locked up so bad the entine car dropped down towards that pass side tire then popped back up. Goes away after a few stops.
has anyone ever ditche dthe abs ina cavalier to see if the problem goes away?
My 97 Sunfire does is, and my 95 Cavalier used to do it....
With the cavi, all I did was adjust the brakes up properly and it went away for a number of months.....
Haven't tried it on the fire though...maybe tonight when I change the brake cable...
Yet another design flaw for the j-body....
zsquee24 wrote:Had the problem on my ole 98 vert. It was cheap rear brake shoes. Changed them out to GM Durastop shoes and never had the problem again.
Hey zsquee, i'm gonna try your solution.
thanks.
**fresh**
